Tring: Communications

From the earliest times the easy route through the Chilterns afforded by the Tring Gap, has been important to travellers. Long before the coming of the railways or the motor car, Tring was developing as a focal point, and an old coaching inn in Tring reminds us of this fact.

When the London, Midlands and Scottish Railway was built, linking London with the north-west it took advantage of the Tring Gap and Tring's importance was thus increased. There was a railway depot, with coaling facilities and it became the terminus for suburban services from London. The twentieth century has seen the development of an extensive road pattern, the principal road being the A41, linking London and Birmingham.

Today the railway and the A41 are the most important communications links in the region. Tring has recently become more residential and people commuting to London every day use the railway's basic hourly service and extra services during the rush-hour.

Surveys carried out by various members of the group showed that the bulk of the traffic was "through-traffic" which found the route through Tring the most efficient. Most local traffic was represented by delivery vehicles, private vehicles and public transport vehicles. A local bus service did run linking the town with the station but most services linked Tring with such places as Aylesbury, Chesham and Watford.

Tring's importance as a routeway for road transport is declining however, as a result of the route to the Midlands via M1 coming into existence. The communications pattern of Tring is gradually changing from fast through traffic to one based on the local needs of an ever-expanding residential population.

P.J. Maddams


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